Birdman’s 1986 Camaro isn’t your uncle’s run of the mill IROC with a faded paint job, and Paradise City stuck on repeat. This machine is an all out heads up, grudge racing banshee that was forged from Hephaestus’ hammer. In the heart of this beast lies a monstrous 622 cubic inch big-block mountain motor armed with a pair of wailing 98mm turbos. When all of its 3,200 horses are unleashed, the earth shakes and a sweet song of mechanical music is sent to the stratosphere.
Some argue that too much power is a bad thing, Birdman begs to differ.
This Camaro sits on a pair of 34 x 13.5 drag slicks and competed in the Big Tire class during the No-prep Redemption at Texas Raceway. With horsepower in the four figure range you would think this machine would move all over the strip like a bucking bronco, but the driver with his immaculate skill manages to keep it straight, on an un-prepped track nonetheless.
During the heads up drag races, this mean third-gen was matched up against a 619 cubic inch big-block Chevy powered first gen Camaro, which it left in the dust. In the semi final round it left another first gen with a 638 cubic inch big block in his rear view mirror, and in the last round he took on Cornbread‘s 632 cubic inch first gen Camaro which he only beat by inches.
In an interview with the owner, 1320 asked what kind of power are you laying down and he jokingly replied 500 or 600. Thanks to a well built mountain motor, precision driving and a lot of willpower this little Camaro seems to break the sound barrier. Both the car and its driver boast plenty of personality and have made for one of the most exciting cars to watch. Every heads up round wasn’t just a race but an all out show on wheels.